That’s exactly what Elizabeth Pucci-Schaefer did at the AAU National Diving Championships in San Antonio, Texas earlier this week. However, it was not just a good way to beat the heat, it was another opportunity for Pucci-Schaefer to compete against some of the best divers in the country.

Once again, Pucci-Schaefer proved that she belongs with the best talent in the nation. The Fredonia High School diver took 16th place in the 1-meter dive with a score of 242.95 and then on the 3-meter board she finished in 17th place.

“I felt really confident going into the meet,” Pucci-Schaefer said about the event. “There was over 700 kids competing, so that was really exciting.”

Those dives are what Pucci-Schaefer usually competes in with her AAU team, but it was not her best performance of the meet. That came in her debut in the 1-meter synchronized dive.

Fredonia divers Leah Marsh, left, and Elizabeth Pucci-Schaefer were all smiles at the AAU National Championships in San Antonio, Texas. Submitted Photo

On Friday, Pucci-Schaefer was asked by Hadley Mulbury from Pittsford if she would be interested in teaming up with her in the synchronized event. Saying Pucci-Schaefer did well for her first time competing in a synchronized dive would be an understatement; she blew away expectations with a third-place podium finish with Mulbury.

With Pucci-Schaefer’s performance it was obvious the brutal Texas heat did not faze her. While diving for the Hillbillies, Pucci-Schaefer competes inside a controlled environment, but at the Northside ISD Swim Center in San Antonio she dove outside in unforgiving temperatures that reached triple-digits.

“The temperature was around 120 degrees,” Pucci-Schaefer stated. “I have competed and practiced outside before when I was in California. I talked to the coaches there and they said the heat actually helps the board.”

Pucci-Schaefer preparation for the extreme heat helped as she was then able to use those conditions to her advantage on the board.

“In the morning it was a lot like when I was in Los Angeles,” Pucci-Schaefer added. “Then as the day went on the boards were more flimsy and had more bounce to them and that’s something you definitely have to adjust to.”

The high finishes are obviously a goal of Pucci-Schaefer’s, but she also recognizes how much her AAU season helps improve her overall performance on the board.

“Watching divers that are future Olympians is definitely awesome,” Pucci-Schaefer said about her experience. “Seeing where I am in comparison with them is great. I also get a chance to work on my 3-meter dives. I learned a whole lot.”

Competing against all that elite talent could impact a lot of athletes, but it didn’t bother Pucci-Schaefer.

“I zone people out pretty easily,” Pucci-Schaefer said. “The biggest thing was that you didn’t have a lot of time because of how many people were there.”

With around 700 divers competing Pucci-Schaefer had a lot of people to zone out, but on the other hand she did not have too much time to worry about how other divers were doing with the amount of competitors.

“This was one of the largest meets ever,” Pucci-Schaefer said. “A lot of people could sign up for it without qualifying. I was definitely very prepared for it though and there was a lot of the same people from the AAU Diving Red-White-Blue National Championship I competed at in West Virginia.”

While it was not Pucci-Schaefer’s first appearance on the national stage in AAU diving, it was the first one for fellow Fredonia diver Leah Marsh. So the question remained if Marsh would be able to stack up with the competition.

Well Marsh answered that question with a big yes, competing in the 1-meter dive and earning a top 50 finish. Marsh scored a 173.70 to land her in 48th place among the Girls B 15-year-old competitors.

For now the Fredonia diving duo will have to wait until the high school season begins for their next competition. Until then they will be practicing and gearing up for another strong season.

“Pretty much for the summer I’m done, that’s the last AAU meet,” Pucci-Schaefer said. “I’ll continue to dive with a few practices a week, gearing up for the high school season.”